TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:10): I thank the member for his question. Can I first state my disappointment and of course my heartfelt concerns for those workers and their families. As a past union secretary in an industry that was hit by job losses, I well and truly understand the impacts of job losses not just on individuals and their families but also on their communities. It is always a very, very tough time at the time, but also it has a long tail as well.
From the outset can I just inform the house that this particular company did transfer from New South Wales to Victoria, so we were able to bring this company, with a range of incentives that were already available at the time, into this state. I know that RDV staff have also been working around the clock in terms of supporting regional businesses so that they can grow and obviously provide safe and stable jobs in regional Victoria.
David Davis interjected.
Gayle TIERNEY: On that point, Mr Davis, the fact of the matter is that there has been significant jobs growth in regional Victoria – you should know that – and there has been particularly good jobs growth in Wodonga. So to come in here and then say various other things to denigrate what has actually happened in regional Victoria – because that seems to be the playbook from those opposite at the moment, to talk down regional Victoria, to talk down jobs and to not recognise that there has been jobs growth –
Members interjecting.
Sonja Terpstra: On a point of order, President, I cannot hear the minister’s answer because of the constant yelling and interjection from those opposite. I ask that the minister be –
The PRESIDENT: I uphold the point of order. The minister will be heard for the rest of her last minute in silence.
Gayle TIERNEY: Thank you. Again, for those opposite, you need to be informed that at least this government has invested over $41 billion in regional Victoria since 2015. This is a government that is very proactive. We are the ones that are there when these sorts of situations happen. Transition to work is part of our DNA. When things like this happen, we make sure that the support services are available so that there is a better transition for those workers.
This is a case also where the member is obviously trying to have a couple of bites of the apple, because last night his adjournment was exactly on this issue, and it was directed to the minister for energy. Then he walks in here and has a question for the regional development minister. I am happy to handle a lot of these questions, but the member, again, needs to make up his mind who he is actually wanting to get answers from.
